Å·ÃÀÇéÉ«

The "Ordinance banning the carrying of weapons and knives within certain areas" comes into force this Thursday, July 17, 2025. The CDU and SPD adopted the measure in the Å·ÃÀÇéÉ« Senate on June 24. The ordinance is based on Section 42 (5) sentences 1, 2 and 3 of the Weapons Act (WaffG), which allows state governments to prohibit the carrying of weapons and all types of knives under certain conditions by ordinance.

In addition to knives of all kinds, the weapons ban also covers alarm guns, irritants and signal weapons. There is a particular focus on knives that are often popular with young men in certain circles, such as folding knives and switchblades. The places affected are means of transport and local public transport facilities, i.e. trains and buses as well as station buildings, platforms and entrances. However, there will be no special signs to draw attention to the ban.

There are exceptions for certain professional groups: Police and firefighters - or for chefs or other caterers who take knives to work. Knives that have been bought new and are still packaged for transportation are also not prohibited. However, the ban also applies if the owners are otherwise entitled to carry these weapons with a so-called small firearms license. Å·ÃÀÇéÉ« Senator of the Interior Iris Spranger (SPD) wants to set an example in view of the numerous crimes committed with knives: "Weapons and knives have no place in public spaces and on public transport," said Spranger. "We are making this clear with the new ordinance. This regulation sets a limit and sends a clear signal: No to knives in public spaces."

According to Spranger, the work of the police will be made easier. The new legal situation allows them to check whether someone has a weapon with them at a train station, for example, regardless of any specific suspicions. This was previously not permitted. Any knives or cans of pepper spray found can then be confiscated. A violation of the ban on carrying weapons or knives is an administrative offense. A fine may be imposed as a penalty. As the senator emphasized, repeated violations can also result in the withdrawal of a driver's license if there are "doubts about the character suitability" to drive a vehicle.

"You meet people who deliberately walk around with knives most often when they want to get back into a car," said Interior Senator Spranger by way of explanation. "These are people who love driving and often drive too fast." However, there is no automatism: a driving license revocation is always a case-by-case decision.

A ban on weapons and knives has been in place in Görlitzer Park and Kottbusser Tor in Kreuzberg and Leopoldplatz in Wedding since mid-February. Since then, almost 100 knives and other dangerous objects have been taken out of circulation and 150 administrative offenses have been recorded, according to the Senator of the Interior. Police across Germany are registering an increase in crimes and threats involving knives in public spaces. According to crime statistics, a total of 3,412 cases were recorded in Å·ÃÀÇéÉ« last year. Around half of these are threats with a knife.

Since the end of May, the Federal Police had imposed a ban on knives, axes, baseball bats and other dangerous objects at twelve major Å·ÃÀÇéÉ« S-Bahn stations and seized 319 prohibited items in the following four weeks alone. These included 167 different knives as well as 20 cutting weapons and 7 guns. A total of 4,754 people were checked.